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RR’s Watson helps Aus level series

MI’s Pollard adjudged Player-of-the-Series

By IPL desk

Mumbai 26 March 2012

Shane Watson struck his 27th ODI half-century and finished with bowling figures of 10-0-44-2 as Australia drew the five-match ODI series against West Indies 2-2. As the third ODI between the two sides was tied, the visitor’s 30-run win against the hosts in the final ODI meant that West Indies were denied the opportunity of registering a rare ODI-series win against Australia.

Australia dominated the final ODI right from the time opposition captain Darren Sammy asked them to bat first after winning the toss. David Warner and Watson got Australia off to a flier as the pair brought up the first 100 runs for their team in just 18 overs. Delhi Daredevils’ Warner struck 69 in his 61-ball knock before falling to Sunil Narine in the 20th over. Nevertheless, half-centuries from Watson (66) and No. 3 batsman Peter Forrest (53) consolidated the visitors’ position.

West Indies, though, did manage to prevent Australia from getting to 300 despite the solid start. DD paceman Andre Russell took four for 61 as Australia slumped from four for 241 to 281 for nine at the end of their 50 overs.

Needing 282 to win, West Indies were put on the defensive as Kolkata Knight Riders’ Brett Lee’s two wickets in his first two overs reduced the hosts to five for two. Mumbai Indians’ Clint McKay and Watson then ripped through the hosts’ middle-order to leave them reeling at 118 for seven in 31.1 overs.

Darren Sammy struck a feisty 50-ball 84 (6x4, 6x6) in a spirited 101-run stand with Andre Russell (33-ball 41), but with the batsmen eventually falling to Xavier Doherty and Ben Hilfenhaus respectively, the hosts were bowled out for 251 in 47.2 overs.

While West Indies would have been disappointed with the drawn series result, consolation came by way of Kieron Pollard being adjudged the Player-of-the-Series. The blustery Mumbai Indians all-rounder was the pick of the batsmen in this series with 222 runs from five innings at an average of 55.50.

DD physio focuses on strength, mobility

Kirk Russell conducts screenings for the Daredevils before IPL 2012

By IPL desk

Mumbai 24 March 2012

The Delhi Daredevils are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for their maiden IPL trophy. With less than two weeks remaining for DLF IPL 2012 to kick off, the franchise’s physiotherapist Kirk Russell is busy screening the players for strength and mobility.

Russell was associated with the England cricket team for over a decade, helping players remain fit for more than 100 Tests and ODIs each. He said that the screening process helps build an optimal fitness plan for the players during and after the tournament.

"We will incorporate the findings of our screening, what I have measured and what yoga expert Jim [Harrington] has seen in a support programme that will first help the players get stronger and more mobile; and secondly, prevent injuries from occurring. Of course, while looking at the screening results, we also look at injury history,” he said.

Russell said this is the third time he’s conducting screening for the Daredevils.

"We did that before IPL 2011 and during the training camp in September last. We have a good database of where each individual should be and also where we want the squad to be. They are given targets to reach and programs to work on when they go away from here as well.”

Describing the efficacy of the process, the physio cited the example of Daredevils’ senior player Avishkar Salvi, who benefited from the training regime given to him by Russell.

"He has scored better with his trunk strength than last year. I sent him a training programme, which I used with the England players for a long time, and he said that it worked really well for him," he said.